The episode of Cool Cat Teacher Talk addresses common elementary classroom challenges, such as student retention of material, effective rostering, and differentiation in math and reading. Featuring insights from various educators, it emphasizes executive functioning, classroom management techniques, and practical strategies to enhance learning while making the classroom engaging and enjoyable for students.
Why are my students forgetting everything? Why do class rosters make or break a school year and what can we do about it? How do I help students who are struggling in math or reading? Can I have an amazing, fun classroom and still improve test scores?
Today’s elementary supershow is designed with some of our most popular conversations with practical examples teachers can apply now. From a remarkable story of how Ezera Washington’s class grew to 91% reading proficiency to Dr. Carol Ann Tomlinson’s timeless wisdom on differentiating math instruction, this show has research and practical application. First, we’re going to start with something that affects everything else in your classroom: executive functioning.
In this show, we discuss:
- Executive function supports (with visual reminder ideas and the hidden cognitive demands we may be unknowingly placing on our students)
- Advice on making rostering decisions
- Differentiating math instruction (advice on grouping)
- Reading/writing practices (with sentence stem ideas)
- How to gamify your classroom
- Ezera Washington’s amazing classroom transformation story of 91% proficiency (and still being fun)
One of the things I love about elementary education is the abundance of remarkable voices sharing their expertise right now. This show features just a few of them. There are so many more educators across podcasts, blogs, and classrooms doing incredible work. I hope this episode serves as a starting point as you discover the voices that resonate with your teaching journey. You can find more elementary and kindergarten resources here on the Cool Cat Teacher Blog, but I encourage you to take some time searching for the growing community of education podcasters and content creators who will encourage and enliven your classroom! We’re all better when we learn together.
Class Composer is sponsoring this podcast. Sign up now for your free trial of Class Composer. For elementary principals and guidance counselors, this is a must-use.
Visual Infographic
This infographic is generated off the segment about Executive function and the other about the science of reading using Google Notebook LM.
Key Takeaways for Teachers
- Give directions just before students begin working—not minutes earlier—to reduce the strain on working memory, and use visual reminders or picture cues to help students remember steps without holding everything in their heads.
- Be aware of hidden cognitive demands in your classroom, including overly decorated walls, multi-step instructions, and materials sitting out before they’re needed, all of which tax students’ ability to focus and inhibit distractions.
- Use flexible grouping in math based on pre-assessment data, and don’t be afraid to move students between groups as they demonstrate readiness—just don’t announce it as a “test” so you see authentic performance.
- Circulate actively during independent work and give in-the-moment feedback rather than waiting to grade papers later; this approach gives you real-time data to adjust instruction immediately.
- Provide sentence stems for writing, especially for students who struggle to get started; as students gain confidence, they’ll naturally move away from the stems on their own.
- Leverage the expertise in your building by watching veteran teachers, asking questions, and collaborating—someone nearby has already figured out what you’re struggling with.
Listen or Watch The Elementary Supershow
Epic Elementary Super Show: Executive Functioning, Reading, Math Differentiation, and More
Author Bios as Submitted
Jennifer Burns
Jennifer Burns is a literacy consultant, author, speaker and coach who uses a student-centered approach in all of her work. This approach creates collaborative conversations that make teaching, learning and growth fun. Her signature approach helps create opportunities for students to engage successfully with volumes of types of reading. Outside of teaching, Jennifer loves to walk, read, spend time with family and find fun coffee shops.
Blog: https://www.buildingareader.com/ Facebook: @BuildingaReader YouTube: @buildingareader Podcast: Building a Reader Podcast — https://www.buildingareader.com/podcasts/building-a-reader
Books by this author:
Carrie Hetzel
Carrie Hetzel joined LCUSD in 2014 as a “teacher on special assignment,” later becoming assistant principal and then principal of Paradise Canyon Elementary. Hetzel has been Principal at La Cañada Unified since 2014, with a Master’s in Human Development.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carrie-hetzel-09419624/
Malia Hollowell
Malia Hollowell is a former teacher who knows what it feels like to be doing all the things—and still watch your students struggle to read. That all changed when she discovered the science of reading. Her students started making huge progress, she finally felt confident in her teaching, and she got her evenings back.
That’s why the founder of Playdough to Plato created The Science of Reading Formula membership–to help teachers cut through the noise and use what actually works. Her research-backed strategies and ready-to-use tools have helped thousands of educators bring joy, growth, and simplicity to their reading instruction.
Connect with Malia on Instagram @playdough2plato, dive into her membership at ScienceofReadingFormula.com, and tune into her podcast, The Science of Reading Formula, for quick, actionable episodes that make your teacher life easier. https://scienceofreadingformula.com/ https://www.instagram.com/playdough2plato/ https://scienceofreadingformula.com/category/podcast/ Blog: https://scienceofreadingformula.com/ Podcast: https://scienceofreadingformula.com/category/podcast/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/Playdough2Plato/
Books by this author:
Heather Marrs
Heather Marrs is an Instructional Coach at Eagle Rock Elementary in Eagle Point, Oregon. She is an Apple Distinguished Educator, Seesaw Ambassador, Book Creator Ambassador and FlipGrid Ambassador. Heather is passionate about integrating technology in education to amplify student voice, increase communication, and engage students. She has been a presenter at ISTE 2019, NCCE 2016-19, the Southern Oregon EdTech Summit 2015-18, and IntegratED 2017-18. Heather is the founder and main moderator of the Oregon EdChat which can be found at #OrEdChat on Twitter. She enjoys being a connected educator and providing professional development both locally and regionally. Outside of teaching, she is a wife and mother of two amazing kiddos.
Blog: https://hmarrs24.wordpress.com/ Twitter: @hmarrs24 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Inspired-Educator-1966035320094239/ Instagram: @hmarrs24 LinkedIn: @hmarrs24
Dr. Sarah Oberle
Dr. Sarah Oberle is a seasoned educator with extensive experience in primary education. She holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership with a specialization in Cognitive Science, bringing together deep expertise in both teaching and learning. Passionate about bridging research and practice, Dr. Oberle focuses on translating insights from the science of learning into accessible, practical strategies that enhance classroom instruction and student success. An active member of several educational boards and committees, she works alongside educators and policymakers to promote evidence-informed decision-making and meaningful, sustainable improvement in education. Beyond her classroom experience, Dr. Oberle has designed and led professional learning programs that empower teachers to apply knowledge of how learning happens to their own practice. She lives in Chester County, Pennsylvania, with her husband and two daughters.
Blog: https://www.sarahoberle.com/
Books by this author:
Dr. Carol Ann Tomlinson
Carol Ann Tomlinson is William Clay Parrish, Jr. Professor Emeritus at the University of Virginia’s School of Education and Human Development where she served as Chair of Educational Leadership, Foundations, and Policy, and Co-Director of the University’s Institutes on Academic Diversity. Prior to joining the faculty at UVa, she was a teacher in public schools for 21 years, during which she taught students in high school, preschool, and middle school and also administered programs for struggling and advanced learners. She was Virginia’s Teacher of the Year in 1974. She was named Outstanding Professor at UVa’s School of Education and Human Development in 2004 and received an All-University Teaching Award in 2008. In 2022, she was ranked #12 in the Education Week Edu-Scholar Public Presence Rankings of the 200 “University-based academics who are contributing most substantially to public debates about schools and schooling,” and as the #4 voice in Curriculum & Instruction. Carol is author of over 300 books, book chapters, articles, and other educational materials. Her books are available in 14 languages. She works throughout the United States and internationally with educators who seek to create classrooms that are effective in reaching diverse student populations.
Twitter: @cat3y Facebook: @carol.tomlinson.5473 Instagram: @cat3y LinkedIn: @cat3y
Books by this author:
Ms. Ezera Washington
Ms. Washington is a dedicated and transformative educator born and raised in Paterson, New Jersey. As the eldest of seven children, Ms. Washington developed a strong sense of responsibility and a passion for education early on, recognizing it as a powerful pathway to economic mobility. Currently serving as the K-5 Supervisor in Paterson, Ms. Washington is driven by a commitment to empower students and ensure they are prepared for academic success, from the early grades through to college and beyond. A proud graduate of Montclair State University, Ms. Washington earned a Bachelor of Arts in English, becoming the first in the family to graduate college with the support of the Educational Opportunity Fund. This personal journey exposed Ms. Washington to the academic challenges faced by students from underserved communities, motivating a lifelong commitment to strengthening educational equity in Paterson. Inspired by a promise she made to herself, to ensure no student from Paterson feels unprepared, Ms. Washington dedicated her career to empowering future generations through transformative teaching and leadership. She believes through high expectations and good relationships all students can succeed inside and outside of the classroom. Beginning her teaching career at School 13 in Paterson, Ms. Washington quickly expanded her impact, moving on to teach fourth-grade Math and English Language Arts (ELA) in Newark for four years. Here is where she became a highly effective educator and instructional leader. During this time, Ms. Washington earned a Master’s in Elementary Education while working full-time, further developing expertise in instructional strategy, student engagement, and peer mentoring. Returning to Paterson, Ms. Washington continued to excel as a fifth-grade ELA teacher at College Achieve, where her dedication to student success led to notable improvements in test scores, earning her the 23-24 Governor’s Educator of the Year award. As a supervisor, Ms. Washington champions a collaborative, co-teaching model to elevate instructional quality across the district. Supporting curriculum writing and network professional development sessions for the network. Through consistent modeling and coaching, Ms. Washington develops teachers who are equipped to inspire and support each student’s unique potential. Today, Ms. Washington remains steadfast in her mission to create equitable learning environments where all students are prepared to excel in every space, especially in college, fulfilling a lifelong vision of opportunity and success for Paterson’s youth. Ms. Washington believes in the Thru and Thru mission of all of her students.
Disclosure of Material Connection: This is a “sponsored podcast episode.” The company who sponsored it compensated me via cash payment, gift, or something else of value to include a reference to their product. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I believe will be good for my readers and are from companies I can recommend. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
I’ll send free ideas and handouts to help your classroom be kinder
Join the Kindness Club and get this free kindness poster as your first gift. When I made this poster and started using it, kids started giving each other compliments — literally. They tear them off and spread the kindness.
If you register today, I’ll send you some helpful reminders, tips, and freebies to help you have more kindness in your classroom.
(I’ll send you reminders every so often, once or twice a week.)
